THE FTC SLAPS TOYS R US FOR TRYING TO PREVENT ITS RIVALS FROM GETTING GOODS

Competitors of Toys "R" Us have been slapping the retail giant silly in recent years. Last week the Federal Trade Commission took a whack, ruling that Toys "R" Us had illegally forced such manufacturers as Mattel and Hasbro to withhold their products from warehouse clubs like Costco. The FTC barred Toys "R" Us from blacklisting toymakers for selling to low-price clubs. The company says it will appeal.

The ruling surprised some in the industry. Although the Toys "R" Us tactics may sound like bullying, retailers do this sort of thing all the time in an effort to get exclusive merchandise or...